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Banking & Payments · Money

CNIC renewal online: Pak-ID app steps, fees and delivery time

CNIC renewal online with NADRA's Pak-ID app: steps, documents, the normal, urgent and executive fees, delivery time and what to do if it expired.

By Hassam · Updated · 3 min read

Smart CNIC renewal, normal
Rs 750, 31 days
Smart CNIC renewal, executive
Rs 2,500, 9 days
Delivery in Pakistan
Rs 165
NADRA helpline
1777
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AI Summary

You can renew a CNIC online with NADRA's Pak-ID app, which takes your fingerprints with the phone camera, a live photo and a signature, so you don't have to visit a NADRA centre. NADRA's fee page (updated 17 Sep 2026) lists a smart CNIC renewal at Rs 750 (31 days), Rs 1,500 urgent (23 days) or Rs 2,500 executive (9 days). The older card costs Rs 400 to Rs 2,150. Home delivery in Pakistan is Rs 165. Apply within a month of expiry.

Yes, CNIC renewal online works through NADRA’s Pak-ID app, without a visit to a NADRA centre in most cases. The app scans your fingerprints with the phone camera, takes a live photo and your signature, and takes the fee online. A smart CNIC renewal costs Rs 750 at normal speed (31 days), on NADRA’s fee page updated 17 September 2026.

Below: the steps, every fee and timeline, the deadline, and what overseas Pakistanis do.

How does CNIC renewal online work on the Pak-ID app?

All you need for a renewal, NADRA says, is your CNIC number. The steps NADRA lists for Pak-ID:

  1. Download Pak-ID. It is NADRA’s official app, on Android and iOS.
  2. Create an account or sign in.
  3. Choose renewal for your existing CNIC and check your details.
  4. Verify yourself. The app scans your fingerprints with the phone camera, takes a live photo and captures your signature on the screen.
  5. Upload any documents the app asks for.
  6. Pay in the app by card or mobile wallet, and choose normal, urgent or executive.
  7. Track the application in the app until the card is delivered.

NADRA says the biometric check and photo may still need a visit to a NADRA Registration Centre. If the app asks for that, Pak-ID can also book a centre appointment.

What are the CNIC renewal fees?

NADRA’s fee page lists the same fee for renewal, modification and a duplicate card:

Card Normal Urgent Executive
Smart CNIC (with chip) Rs 750, 31 days Rs 1,500, 23 days Rs 2,500, 9 days
CNIC (older card) Rs 400, 15 days Rs 1,150, 12 days Rs 2,150, 6 days

Source: NADRA fee structure, site last updated 17 Sep 2026, checked 7 Nov 2026. Delivery within Pakistan adds Rs 165. NADRA issues three kinds of card: the older Teslin CNIC, the Smart CNIC with a microchip and a CNIC with a QR code.

How long does CNIC renewal take?

From 6 days (older card, executive) to 31 days (smart card, normal), as in the table. On Pak-ID, NADRA says the timeline starts after you pay, not when you start the form. Track it in the app’s inbox.

What if my CNIC has already expired?

Apply straight away. NADRA quotes Rule 12 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules 2002: you must apply for renewal no later than one month after the expiry date. NADRA’s fee page lists no separate late fee.

An adult CNIC, smart CNIC or NICOP is valid for 10 years, NADRA says, so check the expiry date printed on your card.

Can overseas Pakistanis renew online?

Yes. Overseas Pakistanis apply for a CNIC or NICOP through Pak-ID or id.nadra.gov.pk, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington says. A smart NICOP renewal is priced in dollars:

NICOP renewal Normal (31 days) Urgent (23 days) Executive (9 days)
Zone A (USA and Europe) $39 $57 $75
Zone B (Middle East and Africa) $20 $30 $40

NADRA charges Pak-ID fees in rupees after currency conversion. Delivery abroad varies by country.

Who do I call about Pak-ID?

NADRA lists helpline 1777 and +92 51 111 786 100, open 24/7. Complaints go to [email protected].

Need a family certificate for a visa or a new member added? See NADRA FRC. Applying for BISP? Keep your CNIC current first: BISP 8171 check.

More guides: SIM check by CNIC, Banking.

Questions people ask

Can I renew my CNIC online in Pakistan?

Yes. NADRA's Pak-ID app lets you renew an existing CNIC without visiting a NADRA centre: it checks your fingerprints with the phone camera, takes a live photo and your signature, and takes the fee online. NADRA notes that biometrics may sometimes still need a centre visit.

What is the CNIC renewal fee in 2026?

On NADRA's fee page (updated 17 Sep 2026), a smart CNIC renewal costs Rs 750 normal, Rs 1,500 urgent or Rs 2,500 executive. The older CNIC costs Rs 400, Rs 1,150 or Rs 2,150. Delivery within Pakistan is Rs 165.

How long does CNIC renewal take?

For a smart CNIC: 31 days normal, 23 days urgent, 9 days executive. For the older CNIC: 15, 12 and 6 days. On Pak-ID the clock starts after you pay.

When must I renew my CNIC?

Rule 12 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules 2002, quoted on NADRA's site, says you must apply no later than one month after the card's expiry date.

What is the NADRA helpline for Pak-ID?

NADRA lists helpline 1777 and +92 51 111 786 100, open 24/7, with complaints to [email protected].

Sources

  1. Fee Structure (site updated 17 Sep 2026), NADRA (accessed 7 Nov 2026)
  2. Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC): renew, NADRA (accessed 7 Nov 2026)
  3. PakID Mobile App, NADRA (accessed 7 Nov 2026)
  4. NADRA facilitation desk, Embassy of Pakistan, Washington (MOFA) (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
  5. Pakistan ID card services made easier with upgraded Pak ID mobile app (14 Sep 2025), Gulf News (accessed 24 Oct 2026)

Photo by Tran Mau Tri Tam ✪ on Unsplash

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